Southampton are set to be handed their first boost under the Nathan Jones regime, with Martin Semmens working hard on a huge deal…

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According to Pete O’Rourke, speaking to GIVEMESPORT, James Ward-Prowse is reportedly willing to give the new manager a chance by signing a new contract.

The journalist claimed: “I think James Ward-Prowse will be looking to give this new regime an opportunity to see what they can do at Southampton.

“If he sees that there is progress and potential for success, I’m sure he’d be more than happy to stay there.

“Right now, I think Southampton will be determined to keep Ward-Prowse under the new manager.”

It’s a dream start

Of all the things that Jones could have done to kickstart his career on the south coast, tying down his captain and star player would have been high on his list.

Especially given how desensitised fans of the south coast outfit must be to seeing their best players leave, this news comes at a particularly poignant time given the 28-year-old now enters his prime years.

The midfield maestro has been ever-present at St Mary’s this term, having now featured 380 times for the Saints, and earned widespread praise for his proficiency over a dead ball.

He is the current record-holder for most free kicks scored in the Premier League with 14, beating out the likes of Sebastian Larsson, Leighton Baines and even Cristiano Ronaldo.

But that is not all the £45k-per-week star is good for at the club, as he acts as a metronome in their engine room, providing energy and creativity in abundance.

Boasting a 76.7% pass accuracy, he is happy to sit deep and spread the play and make sudden bursts forward to grab his occasional goal or assist.

He does this close to perfection, as he ranks in the top 7% for shot-creating actions across Europe's top five leagues.

During his career at the club, he has amassed 46 goals and 50 assists, a fine return for a central midfielder.

It is this consistent quality paired with his reluctance to leave that has made him a “true hero” at the club, as labelled by sports writer Kaelen Jones.

This would mark the perfect start to the new manager’s tenure, with any potential future success likely to have Ward-Prowse at the heart of it.